New brief summarizes research on physical activity in after-school programs

July 2, 2012

Nearly one in three young people in the United States are overweight or obese and lack of physical activity contributes to the epidemic. Leading public health officials recognize after-school programs as an important setting for promoting physical activity and preventing...

The upside of peer pressure: social networks help kids exercise more

May 30, 2012

May 28, 2012, TIME By Alice Park Peer pressure can be a powerful force, and sometimes a positive one. For example, hanging out with active peers may lead kids to exercise more, making a child’s social network a potential vehicle...

Schools should increase exercise and track weight data, study recommends

April 9, 2009

By Annie Gowen Local schools need to do more to get students moving and track their weight data, according to a recent regional survey on childhood obesity. Researchers for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments surveyed nine area school districts and...

Measurement of the food and physical activity environments

April 1, 2009

April 2009 Given the high rates of obesity prevalence in the United States and around the world, research interest has grown regarding the effects of the community food and physical activity environments on individual diet and activity behavior. Robust measures...